Hello again,

My boy is now 7 months old and the dreaded "teen attitude" has arrived and I'm at my wits end.

Is there any info anyone can give me on how to deal with this ?

It's the "I won't" sit, come back, lay down or listen to a blind bit of what you're saying to me and "I'll do what I want, when I want, with whoever I want for as long as I want and the only reason you're in my life is to feed and walk me" stage.

I try not to raise my voice but if I have done it then my older dog gets upset so I'm trying to just take deep breathes.

I've increased exercise and have been told I should go back to basic puppy training etc.

Any info would be gratefully received, how long it goes on for etc.

Thank you

Annee

If he's off lead and not coming back, then keep him on a lead. A flexi or a long line would be just fine so you will have the ultimate say so in him returning to you, and yes, back to basics with the training. I went through this with mine when she was roughly the same age, she kept ignoring her recall which had been so good, so on the lead she went with lots of recall training again with the tastiest treats I could find. I would let her off when the coast was clear ahead and practice recall again and again then have a good game with a tuggy toy or a ball, then back on the lead for the rest of the walk.
It doesn't last that long although it varies with dog to dog, possibly with males it could be longer, but don't really know that one as it's been a while since I had a male.
Good luck

Hello Jodi,

Thank you, off lead on a walk he's actually really quite good at coming back unless he's playing with other dogs, only once last week he didn't come back deciding that he'd run towards me to give the illusion he was then would carry on running.

I will however do what you say and put him on a long lead though as his constant jumping at people is still an issue, I do tell people to ignore him and then he doesn't jump but people just want to know what dog he is, stopping to chat and pat him and then of course he gets excited and starts jumping.

It really is a trying time and have not had a puppy for 10 years...I've also never had a boy before.

Annee

I was the same when I got Isla as hadn't had a puppy for about 15 years, so I can understand where you're coming from.
A good trick for if he's running past you is, as he goes past, run in the opposite direction calling him so that he will then turn and run after you. If he runs past again, then do the same, run in the opposite direction. Eventually he will come to you rather then run past. Loads of praise and the tasty treat at that point.
Hopefully you are still up to running, it's not something I've been doing for quite a while with my knees.

Hehehe - this isn't by chance, a Basset is it?    Having lived for well over 40 years with all the 'she can't possibly mean me' attitude that goes on with this breed, I can't help but

Basically you have to AVOID.   I have to say with our first, out in a local park, if he started all this tossing his head in the air, can't mean me, stuff, I'd go hide behind a tree (keeping a close eye on the situation!).  Eventually when what was more interesting to him than listening to me, wore off, panic!   Where's mum!!   HE CAME.   Fast.   And the secret then is actually not to punish, much as it feels like it, but to praise.   And carry treats.   Positive training, with many dogs like this, usually works.

I have also done this running in the opposite direction thing, but whether or not you try this would depend on where you are..... it has to be a safe place.   One example of this was when, during an after work gathering, I offered to go let a co-worker's GSD youngster out of her car for a stretch.   All was fine except then he took off.   I ran after him before I realised he was going to be able to keep going, getting faster at that, for way longer than I could.   So in desperation, I ran into a shop front calling his name - he followed!   It was a do or die situation but thank goodness, it worked.

Quite often by the time the hormones start to rage, a young male will go through tantrums and it's at this time that you have to reinforce the earlier training, perhaps going right back to step one.   Don't lose your cool - you'll achieve far more with 'calm assertive' (the ONLY thing I did pick up from Milan!).   He's pushing the boundaries - PUSH BACK.   Hard.

Just to add, I have always adopted a consequences for actions policy and that means unwanted consequences for unwanted actions.   Not physically, or verbally (when you have others, they get very upset if mum raises her voice), but a withdrawing of 'privileges'.    So you don't come back when off the lead?   Then you don't go off-lead.   If you make a noise outside when told to stop - you get brought straight back indoors, and so on.

PREMACK

http://www.dogstardaily.com/radio/22-premack-explained

NILIF
Nothing in Life is free, he needs to do something to get something, your attention his meals walks etc.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/nilif-nasty article addresses some negative views on the wrong application of this method.

Hi  got 10 month old border terrier  house trained no need for crate anymore  no chewing furniture ete can go out and leave him as have to return to work as off for 6 months and gets loads of exercice before i go out build up over months  he gets the run off the hall and kitchen
But lately been coming home to wallpaper & flooring chewed   he has loads of chew toys & stuff kongs  am thinking get the crate back out   looking for some border owners help thanks.

Sounds like one lonely little boy. 

how long is he alone ? can someone go in and take him out ?

I have not long taken ownership of a 12 month boy who is as good as gold when we are out, goes off lead always comes back ( tugs abit on lead but that will be rectified) good as gold in the house never makes a mess BUT he is being a real bully to my original dog. I know its to do with jealousy as he pushes in when ever I am doing anything with her but how do we over come this I try not to treat one without the other give them both the same amount of love and attention but I would so like him to bond with her. He doesnt dislike her there is no real fighting ( a couple of squabbles early on) just sort of ignores her which is such a shame as she would love to be friends and play. She is only a couple of months older that him and he is neutered. Any ideas on how to get dogs to bond or is it still too early he been with us since just before Christmas